Backbone Radio: Sunday, March 21, 2010

by Rossputin | 4:41 am, March 21, 2010

[Please see the info below about the new Instant Messaging service I’ve implemented during the radio show!]

Please join me by listening to (and calling in to) this week’s Backbone Radio program from 5 PM to 8 PM  on 710 AM KNUS in Denver.

If you’re not in range of the radio waves, you should be able to listen to the show online by clicking HERE.

I’ll be joined by the always interesting Krista Kafer.

Of course we’ll be spending plenty of time talking about health care “reform” which is by far the biggest story of the week, the month, and the year.

But we’ll also cover other topics, both newsy and philosophical.

During the first hour, we’ll be joined by State Senator Greg Brophy who will give us a “lightning round” update on the state legislative session.  If you think our federal Congress is bad, you should hear what the Democrats in the state legislature are doing…

As a lead-in to our 6-o’clock guest, we’ll talk a bit about the difference between libertarian and conservative, and perhaps between “small-l” libertarian and “capital-L” Libertarian (i.e. representing a member of the Libertarian Pary.)

In the 6-o’clock hour, we’ll be joined by Rob McNealy, Libertarian candidate for Congress in Colorado’s 6th Congressional District, to talk about the news of the week, his position on key issues, and what it means to him to be a Libertarian.  (I note from perusing Rob’s site that he has some positions which might be considered closer to conservative than Libertarian…which is not meant as a criticism.)

And during the 7 PM hour, we will be joined by current 6th CD Congressman Mike Coffman to talk about health care and the remarkable dynamics of the House of Representatives as well as his take on the mood of the people and what the November elections are likely to bring.

I encourage listener participation so please call, e-mail, or instant message me, and join in the conversation.

The studio call-in number is 303-696-1971.  Add it to your speed dial!

I have implemented an instant messaging “widget” on my website at Rossputin.com, so if you go to my main blog page, you should see the IM form on the right. (For now, I only plan on turning it on during the show, not having it on every day.)  You can shoot me a message during the show and if it’s relevant I’ll respond on air.

Also, I will check e-mail during the show, so feel free to e-mail me at ross (at) 710knus.com (click on that text to open an e-mail to me!) and I’ll even try to keep an eye on my Twitter account so you can try “tweeting” to me…@Rossputin.  You can try THIS link if you’re logged in to Twitter, but I’m not an expert so I’m not sure it will work…

Four Corners Gang of Six Representing Us on Capitol Hill

by Lu Busse | 1:46 pm, March 20, 2010

***UPDATE*** 11 pm March 21th on Four Corners Gang of Six – Trip Timer: 72.5 hours Our intrepid Four Corners Gang of Six started the 30+ hour drive back in the morning and had to hear the UnConstitutional freedom killing health care bill passed after over 12 hours of driving. They called into Jon Caldara’s show & were the [...]

Breaking news: House will not use “deem and pass” tactic

by Rossputin | 1:20 pm, March 20, 2010

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) just announced that the House will NOT use the “deem and pass” scheme which seemed to be the path they had been on for several days.  He refused to say whether pushback from members of the Democratic Caucus was the reason for the change.

Hoyer said there would be two hours of debate before a vote on the reconciliation package followed immediately by a vote on the Senate bill.

If both were to pass, the Senate bill would go to the president to be signed into law and the reconciliation bill would go to the Senate…where it will face a barrage of Republican opposition and parliamentary attacks.

The change in plans is, unfortunately for the nation, a wise move for the Democrats because “deem and pass” would have faced serious court challenges despite the left’s trying to defend it by saying it’s been used plenty of times before.

If the House passes both bills and if Harry Reid can deliver 51 votes for the reconciliation package (as he is promising), whether that is the first version of reconciliation or some later version after whatever changes the Republicans are able to force, the next 8 months will be a non-stop show of Democrats talking about getting rid of “preexisting conditions exclusions for children” and Republicans talking about “gutting Medicare” and “massive tax hikes”.   All health care, all the time.  Democrats believe they can talk the public into thinking the new law is good for them.  Republicans think the public will hate it even more than they do now once they realize how intrusive it is and how much it really is a government takeover of the health care system.

I think the Republicans will be right but the Democrats are “all in” at this point and have little to lose by trying their strategy.

In the meantime, the Capitol is teeming with Tea Party activists yelling “Kill the Bill”.

At this point, what’s happened is that Democrats feel so certain they’re going to lose large numbers of seats in November that they’re telling their members “you might as well vote for this because you’re gonna lose anyway”.

Perhaps I should move to Wyoming – Gov signs sovereignty resolution

by Mr. Bob | 10:27 am, March 20, 2010

#teaparty #redco #freedom #10thAmendment #tcot
by Michael Boldin
This week, Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal signed House Joint Resolution 2 (HJ0002), claiming “sovereignty on behalf of the State of Wyoming and for its citizens under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government or reserved to the people by the Constitution of the United States.”

Freudenthal, a long-time Democrat, was previously a US attorney for the Clinton administration, and is currently serving his 2nd term as Governor of Wyoming. He endorsed Barack Obama for president and is commonly referred to as one of the most popular governors in the country.
In a memorandum sent to the Wyoming legislature in late January, Freudenthal made clear his position that the federal government has gone beyond the limits of the constitution:

“For decades we have shared increased frustration dealing with the federal government and its
agencies. What started out as a leak in the erosion of state prerogative and independence has today turned into a flood. From wolf and grizzly bear management, to gun control, to endless regulation and unfunded mandates – the federal government has become far too powerful and intrusive.”
READ THE REST

Dan Maes says big contributors haven’t stepped up yet; he has 500 new contributors

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 9:11 am, March 20, 2010

Dan Maes, a Republican candidate for governor of Colorado, said in a comment posted on this blog, that he has over 500 new contributors this quarter, but the biggest contributors and political action committees have yet to contribute to him or his opponent, Scott McInnis. Of course, he doesn’t know whether those conntributors have been giving to McInnis. That information won’t be available until early next month. In his comment, Maes wrote:
You are all still missing the biggest fact of 2010 regarding unaffiliated voters.  Old timers still think they are in the middle like 2008.  They are no longer there.  They are there (or indifferent) socially, but fiscally and constitutionally they are as far right if not further than I am.  They will not hold their noses for a center/right candidate.  I know, I have spent 12 months with many of them.
Second,  most of the big money is still on the sidelines.  No PACS have given yet nor the tradtional big money republicans.  They are waiting and seeing.  We have over 500 new contributors this quarter.  Ever heard of Scott Brown?

John Hickenlooper raised fees in Denver by $5 million for 2010

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 8:49 am, March 20, 2010

John Hickenlooper Thursday said it is “crazy” to raise taxes during a recession and that the anti-business messages coming from Governor Bill Ritter and legislative leaders are “crazy,” but he must think there is no recession because he raised fees by about $5 million a year for 2010, the enterprise reporter Christopher N. Osher reports this morning. Is it accurate to note that the mayor has raised taxes and fees five or six times over the last six years?

War Protest in DC – No, Really…

by T.L. James | 8:40 am, March 20, 2010

Hey, remember when political protests used to be about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq? You know…back before President Obama was elected, and fulfilled all his campaign promises to end the wars, withdraw the troops, and undo the foreign policy tangle which – like every other problem he has faced in the past year – he inherited [...]

Bayfield Tea Party “Gang of Six” Headed to Sunday’s “Operation Flood D.C.” Rally

by T.L. James | 7:53 am, March 20, 2010

Several grassroots activists from Colorado are on their way to DC for Sunday’s rally against the health care takeover bill: Calling themselves the “Gang of Six,” a group of Tea Party and 9.12 activists from Bayfield, Colo. is on the road to Washington, DC, where Sunday they’re planning to make one last stand against President [...]

Freedom Forever Rally – Sunday, March 21, 2010

by Lu Busse | 5:12 am, March 20, 2010

Stand for Our America The Speaker of the US House says they will vote on the Senate version of the Health care bill Sunday as 223 House members voted to by pass the Constitution today to allow it to be deemed passed. We all know the arguments of the willful destruction of the Constitution, cost in [...]

One theory on the Dems strategery

by Rossputin | 4:09 am, March 20, 2010

Here’s one theory on the real short-term goal of Pelosi and Obama:  They want to get enough Democrat support that they can pass the Senate Bill and their reconciliation package without having to use the “Slaughter Rule” to “deem” the Senate Bill passed rather than actually voting on it.

While Pelosi and Obama have been saying that people don’t care about “process”, they know it’s not true.  They say that everyone knows a vote for the Slaughter Rule is the same as a vote for the Senate Bill.  But if their members knew that, they wouldn’t need the scheme.  For Democrat members of Congress, voting on the rule lets them think they might be able to fool just enough voters to get reelected.

But again, Pelosi and Obama know it isn’t true.  Americans won’t fall for it.  In a way, I think it’s smarter for the Dems to vote for the Senate bill and try to honestly defend ObamaCare than to try to hide behind a transparent procedural maneuver. I think the Democratic leadership knows that as well.

Thus, their goal is not to pass this bill by a one or two vote margin.  They want to have enough “Yes” votes so they can just vote on the Senate bill rather than on the Slaughter Rule which will have the secondary effect, after passing the government takeover of health care, of slaughtering Democrats in November even worse than the blood-letting they’re already going to take.

It must be noted that the situation will become even muddier if the House passes their bills or rule on Sunday because the reconciliation process could be even more complex and arcane than the hoops the House is jumping through.  Republicans are already working out plans to derail the ability to pass reconciliation as the House wants it.  And if they can force changes, it would have to go back to the House.  One huge question remains:  reconciliation must reconcile with existing law.  That means that Obama would need to sign the Senate bill into law, but the House does not like the Senate bill as-is.  If Obama signs the Senate bill into law and then reconciliation fails, America will be stuck with the Senate bill (which is an utter disaster but, if anything, probably better than the House’s reconciliation plans.)  But the House will be extremely displeased if that happens, and they may use the Slaughter rule simply to avoid that possible outcome.

It will be political theater of the highest order.

Finally, keep in mind that the Democrats are finally admitting publicly that a loss on health care “reform” will destroy the Obama presidency for the remaining 3 years for which we must be tortured by a president who hates capitalism, hates fundamental American values, and has no understanding of economics or the real world.  The Democrats’ true goal is to make sure this Manchurian Candidate’s agenda is still at least somewhat achievable and his legacy at least somewhat preserved.

Old Media vs. New Media

by T.L. James | 8:55 pm, March 19, 2010

A simple illustration of the difference between old media and new media: The camera on the left was used by C-SPAN to tape (on a separate tape deck and 8″ CRT) the appearance by Ambassador Paul Bremer at the recent Leadership Program of the Rockies annual retreat. In regular definition. For later uploading to the [...]

Health care bill’s assault on business

by Brian Schwartz | 8:20 pm, March 19, 2010

From Investor’s Business Daily:
If ObamaCare becomes permanent, no one will suffer more than U.S. businesses. They’ll face higher taxes, more regulations and a higher cost of capital. But don’t take our word for it. Go ask Caterpillar.
The heavy-equipment giant reckons its insurance costs will go up 20%, or $100 million, the first [...]

Health care bill’s assault on business

by Brian Schwartz | 8:20 pm, March 19, 2010

From Investor’s Business Daily:
If ObamaCare becomes permanent, no one will suffer more than U.S. businesses. They’ll face higher taxes, more regulations and a higher cost of capital. But don’t take our word for it. Go ask Caterpillar.
The heavy-equipment giant reckons its insurance costs will go up 20%, or $100 million, the first [...]

The Looming Disaster

by Al Maurer | 5:57 pm, March 19, 2010

There’s nothing I can say about this monstrosity of a health care bill that hasn’t already been said better by the Heritage Foundation: so go there and read the top ten ways this bill is going relieve you of your money and your liberty–for less return than you’re getting now.
Oh, yes: it also includes a [...]

Harry Reid: The public option is not dead

by Rossputin | 2:29 pm, March 19, 2010

Fox News just reported that Harry Reid says there will be a vote on a public option soon.  Now we know what Dennis Kucinich was promised for his vote.  There is no chance that a public option will pass, but the Dems will try anything and everything at this point to save Barack Obama.

Follow the Four Corners Six – Our True Representatives Headed to DC

by Lu Busse | 2:08 pm, March 19, 2010

***UPDATE*** 6:00 am March 20th on Four Corners Gang of Six: Trip Timer: 30.5 Hours - our True Representatives are in Maryland about an hour away from DC. So, they plan to stop and check in at their hotel, freshen up and take the Metro to the Capitol for the Kill the Bill Rally at noon.  Before then, Casey will be [...]

Legislative Assault on Amazon Hurts Colorado Business

by Ari Armstrong | 1:17 pm, March 19, 2010

The following article originally was published March 19, 2010, by Grand Junction’s Free Press.Legislative assault on Amazon hurts Colorado businessby Linn and Ari ArmstrongWe told you so. On February 24, Governor Bill Ritter signed a number of business…

The myth of inevitability

by Rossputin | 11:58 am, March 19, 2010

As Congressman Paul Ryan noted on Fox News a few days ago, part of the Democrats’ strategy to pass health care “reform” is to overstate the number of votes they have, trying to particularly pressure freshman and sophomore congressmen to be “on the right side of history.”

I had an interesting conversation with Human Events reporter Connie Hair – she of the endless energy and commitment to her conservative principles – in which she made a few key points:

First, she told me that the Democrats reached out to Joseph Cao (R-LA), the only Republican to vote for the first House health care bill.  Cao has switched to “no” and they’re trying to get him back.  As Connie noted, “they wouldn’t be trying to get the Republican if they had enough Democrats.”

Second, there is pressure on Democrat congressmen from their governors, including from Democrat governors (click HERE to see letter from the Democrat governor of Tennessee to no-turned-yes Congressman Bart Gordon), who know that the health care “reform” bill will bankrupt financially-teetering states because of the mandates from Medicaid expansion.  This is the particular issue which was the subject of the Cornhusker Kickback. The Democrats’ proposed solution is to get rid of that payoff and give the same payoff to every state, essentially a massive expansion of the very entitlement that is bankrupting the federal government.

Third, it is all but impossible that the House’s reconciliation package will pass the Senate unaltered.  And if it gets altered by as much as a comma, it has to go back to the House where Democrats will have to “walk the plank again.”

Keep in mind that the Senate Parliamentarian has ruled that reconciliation in any form can only proceed after the Senate bill has been signed into law.  According to Connie, that ruling means that the House cannot make their approval of the bill conditional on the Senate’s agreeing to the House’s reconciliation package.  Therefore, if the House passes their “self-executing rule”, the Senate health care bill will be signed into law. And that will probably not change as we could see weeks or months of political chaos during which the reconciliation package is sent back and forth between the Senate and the House, with Senate Republicans using every procedural tool available to them to strip out the illegal, i.e. non-budget related items, from the reconciliation package.

Connie also noted that Mark Levin is planning a constitutional challenge to anything that passes the House under the Slaughter Rule and that there is a good chance the DC Circuit would put a stay on the implementation of the Senate bill until they can hear and rule on the case.  And there’s a good chance that the Supreme Court hears the case.

In the meantime, especially if Republicans take back control of either chamber of Congress, the GOP can work to make sure that the plan is essentially defunded until it can be repealed under a Republican president in 2012.

As Fred Barnes recently noted, if the House passes health care “reform”, it means we’re closer to the beginning than the end of the political chaos around the issue.

Back to the myth of inevitability, the blog Firedoglake.com is one of few on the left not buying into Pelosi’s claims that she has or will imminently have the votes.  That site still thinks the Dems are down about 7 votes.

Finally, almost nobody is reporting that while there have been some “no” votes switching to “yes”, there have also been “yes” votes switching to no. In fact, Fox’s Carl Cameron reported midday on Friday that 6 yes votes have switched to no, with only 4 no switching to yes. This is, as Connie says, “the big unreported story of the past few days.”  And that’s just how Pelosi wants it.

 

Guns on Campus: Video Playlist

by Jon Caldara | 11:32 am, March 19, 2010

From tonight’s Independent Thinking…

Debbie Schlussel: Sean Hannity’s Freedom Concert scam

by Rossputin | 9:54 am, March 19, 2010

UPDATE: Hannity pushes back:
http://biggovernment.com/falliance/2010/03/19/freedom-alliance-responds-to-allegations-against-sean-hannity/

UPDATE 2: For Debbie Schlussel’s response to the Freedom Alliance, please see the end of this note.

In a remarkable piece of investigative reporting, blogger Debbie Schlussel tells us that Sean Hannity’s Freedom Concerts, which are supposedly raising money for injured veterans and the families of veterans killed in action, give an almost-criminally low percentage of its donations to these veterans or their families.  Instead, it spends the vast majority of the donations on expenses and salaries, on consultants and on private jets for Hannity and his family.

I’ve never been an enormous fan of Hannity’s even though I appreciate anyone who effectively promotes a message of liberty.  To me, he’s rather superficial and rarely seems to do innovative or ground-breaking work.  He’s a conservative populist and I generally don’t like populists but I always thought he was doing yeoman’s work with the millions of dollars he raised for dead or injured veterans and their families.

Now, even that reason to like Hannity appears to be gone.

It’s a remarkable story and I urge you to read it:
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/6938/sean-hannitys-freedom-concert-scam-only-7-of-charitys-money-went-to-injured-troops-kids-of-fallen-troops-g5s-g6s-for-vannity/

For those of you who don’t know Schlussel, she’s no liberal.  She’s run for office as a Republican and has received death threats for her hard-hitting attacks against radical Islam in the US.

 

————–

Debbie Schlussel’s response to Freedom Alliance’s post in their defense:

Moreover, because they hoarded millions of dollars, their returns show the fund shrunk by several million dollars with bad investments and market losses. That money could have put these kids through college for the entire time. What’s their excuse for the soldiers with no limbs and with severe burns? Are they waiting for two decades from now when technology is better? $165 for a soldier who is blind and his face blew up? No excuse for that. Their “response” is simply a non-response and an attempt to cover up the fraud.

Liberal Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper is making dash for the middle; Scott McInnis appeals to base

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 9:24 am, March 19, 2010

In his speech to south suburban business leaders yesterday, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, an Obama Democrat if there ever was one, signaled that he is making a mad dash to the middle, if not to the center right. He is taking advantage of the continuing Republican contest between Republicans Scott McInnis and Dan Maes for the support of conservatives who want little to do with so-called problem-solving, compromising moderates who seem to wind up helping Democrats spend money, increase taxes and grow state and federal government budget deficits. If the GOP waits until the August 10 primary to name its gubernatorial candidate, Hickenlooper will have plenty of time to rebrand himself while McInnis and Maes brand each other as rigid, hard right conservatives. Since Colorado is a Blue state until proven otherwise, this looks like a no-lose situation for Hickenlooper and a waste of time for Republicans. There is no way the under funded and poorly organized  Maes can beat McInnis, but he sure can make victory easy for Hickenlooper.

I’m Making Ben DeGrow a Famous Expert on Aspen NPR Education Interview

by Eddie | 9:14 am, March 19, 2010

Yesterday my Education Policy Center friend Ben DeGrow appeared on a National Public Radio station in the Carbondale / Aspen area to talk about some of the pressing education issues facing our state. Follow this link to listen to his interview with Matthew Katz of KDNK.
For more on the topics Ben references in his interview, [...]

Scott McInnis, John Hickenlooper speak out against ObamaCare

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 9:13 am, March 19, 2010

Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis says in a press release today that the enactment of ObamaCare would impose budget-killing unfunded mandates on the state of Colorado. Yesterday, his opponent, Democrat Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, told business leaders at the South Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce that he would have preferred a 20- to 50-page bill, but he didn’t say he opposed it. He also said he wouldn’t raise taxes in a recession. ObamaCare imposes huge tax increases that would seriously depress the economy and kill jobs. In his press release, McInnis said:

The Democrats’ health care smoke and mirrors

by Rossputin | 8:39 am, March 19, 2010

Please have a look at my Human Events article about the literally incredible revenue and “savings” assumptions on which the Democrats are basing their erroneous claims that ObamaCare will cut budget deficits or in any other way be good for the nation:

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=36104

A Convenient Excuse

by Jon Caldara | 6:46 am, March 19, 2010

© 2010, Benjamin Hummel. To see more cartoons like this go to www.politixcartoons.com.

Don’t Burden, Smother Parents with SB 110’s Booster Seat Good Intentions

by Ben DeGrow | 6:17 am, March 19, 2010

CBS4Denver reports: Booster Seat Measure Moves Forward in Legislature. The booster seat manufacturing lobby must be thrilled. But seriously… do parents need the nanny Democrats running the state legislature to impose another burden on us? Is the state going to give me a dollar-for-dollar tax rebate when I buy my mandatory booster seat for the [...]

The Chinese Yuan and Sam Brownback’s economic idiocy

by Rossputin | 4:19 am, March 19, 2010

I was going to write a note about how boneheaded the Senate’s attack on China (pushing to have them labeled as a “currency manipulator”) is, but Michael Schumah has done such a good job that I’ll simply point you to his piece and add a couple more comments.

Schumah’s article: Pressing China on the Yuan Won’t Work

Please read it…it’s an excellent intellectual immunization against the siren-like call of economic ignoramuses.

I would also add that China’s policy causes them to accumulate dollars, with which they have been massive buyers of US government debt.  Some people worry about that giving China leverage over the US but I doubt that.  Debt holders are not voters, whether in international economics or in standard corporate finance.  Beyond the debt, we’ve learned recently that China is buying equity stakes (stock) in US companies.  Combined, China’s trade surplus with the US is giving them more reason than ever to support American economic success.  The argument that China will damage the US if they don’t get their way is like saying they’d be willing to incinerate billions of dollars.  If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Communist China, it’s that they’re more capitalist and more fiscally disciplined than our own government, at least over the past several years – including most of George W. Bush’s second term. And that’s all on top of the 800-pound gorilla of China needing the US export market to keep Chinese workers employed and prevent social unrest, something they fear greatly.

One of the main impacts of China’s debt purchases has been to keep long-term interest rates very low.  While one can make a legitimate case that long-term bonds have largely because of China been in their own bubble (prices up, rates down) and that the bubble was a cause of the real estate bubble and ensuing economic collapse, at this point it’s clear that the economy and the real estate market would be in even worse shape if long-term rates were higher.

If there’s anything the global economy can’t handle now, it’s a trade war between the US and China.  Our politicians are just stupid enough to lead us into one, though I predict they’ll back off before that happens.

As if the arguments against the Senators’ move isn’t enough, the list of Senators behind it should give anyone with the slightest clue about political economy grave doubts about the thinking behind this attack on China:

Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Robert Casey (D-PA), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Carl Levin (D-MI), Jim Webb (D-VA), and Arlen Specter (D-PA).

Have you ever seen a more complete list of econo-morons and RINOs?  (It could only be more complete if it included John McCain, though McCain isn’t too bad on free trade most of the time.)

ObamaCare vs. the Hippocratic Oath

by Brian Schwartz | 1:01 am, March 19, 2010

Writes Paul Hsieh, MD:
President Obama’s health care “reform” plan has been criticized for being economically unsustainable, politically unpopular, and constitutionally suspect. But for many practicing physicians like myself, his plan contains an even greater but seldom-discussed flaw that overshadows those others. ObamaCare would fatally compromise doctors’ [...]

Health Care Cuban Style

by El Marco | 9:24 pm, March 18, 2010

These words of Arlín Rodríguez, from the TV talk show The Roundtable on March 17, thundered in my ears for half an hour. A few days ago I had access to three hundred photos of the autopsies of those who died at the psychiatric hospital in Havana and I cannot imagine how that phrase came out [...]

Common sense

by Al Maurer | 7:58 pm, March 18, 2010

These are a few lessons my mother taught me.  All mothers used to teach these, dads too. Somebody forgot to teach these to a large number of people in Congress.

Two wrongs don’t make a right. If the GOP used shady maneuvers to pass small bills, it is no excuse for the Democrats to use the [...]

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